Apparatus for injecting dry solid particles into a liquid including noise muffling means

ABSTRACT

A process and apparatus for accelerating dry solid particles entrained in a fluid stream to a high velocity, and decreasing the velocity of the fluid stream without appreciably decreasing the velocity of the particles. The particles which are directed toward a liquid strike and enter the liquid where they are dissolved. The apparatus comprises a nozzle having a flared outlet for greatly decreasing the velocity of the exiting fluid stream so that upon striking the liquid, the fluid stream itself does not materially disturb the liquid, but without appreciably decreasing the velocity of the heavier dry particles which therefore continue to travel at high velocity, striking and penetrating the surface of the liquid. A muffler attached to the nozzle and partially immersed in the liquid muffles the noise generated by the apparatus.

United States Patent 1 Siegel [54] APPARATUS FOR INJECTING DRY SOLID PARTICLES INTO A LIQUID INCLUDING NOISE MUFFLING MEANS [75] Inventor: Harris T. Siege], Roch ester, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 82,650

[52] US. Cl. ..55/239, 23/271, 137/544, 222/193, 259/18, 134/102, 134/182, 55/276 [51 Int. Cl. ..BOId 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..23/271, 267, 309; 222/193; 137/544, 545, 546; 259/18; 134/102, 182;

HIGH PRESSURE AIR SOURCE 51 Jam-2,1973

3,129,064 4/1964 Harvey ..23/271 X Primary Examiner-Norman Yudkoff Assistant ExaminerS. J. Emery Attorney-W. O. l-lodsdon and Steve W. Gremban 571 ABSTRACT A process and apparatus for accelerating dry solid particles entrained in a fluid stream to a high velocity, and decreasing the velocity of the fluid stream without appreciably decreasing the velocity of the particles. The particles which are directed toward a liquid strike and enter the liquid where they are dissolved. The apparatus comprises a nozzle having a flared outlet for greatly decreasing the velocity of the exiting fluid stream so that upon striking the liquid, the fluid stream itself does not materially, disturb the liquid, but without appreciably decreasing the velocity of the heavier dry particles which therefore continue to travel at high velocity, striking and penetrating the surface of the liquid. A muffler attached to the nozzle and partially immersed in the liquid muffles the noise generated by the apparatus.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR INJECTING DRY SOLID PARTICLES INTO A LIQUID INCLUDING NOISE MUFFLING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to mixing apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus for injecting relatively dry solid particles into a liquid where they are dissolved.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is generally well known in the art to provide a process and apparatus for injecting a relatively dry material such as a gelatin into a liquid such as water to form a gelatinous solution. This may be accomplished by a cold soaking process in which the desired amounts of relatively dry gelatin (containing not more than approximately percent moisture) and water at approximately 70 F. are combined for a predetermined time sufficient to thoroughly wet the dry gelatin particles, and then heating the combined mixture of particles and water to a temperature sufficient to dissolve the gelatin. One problem encountered in practicing this cold soaking mixing process is that the dry gelatin particles are not easily wetted and tend to float on the liquid surface. The non-wetting is even more troublesome if the gelatin is added to hot water at about 85 F. or higher or to previously prepared gelatinous solutions. In such cases, the particles become sticky and agglomerate before they can be adequately dispersed, and form large lumps that dissolve very slowly. Accordingly, it has been necessary in some situations to add the gelatin to existing mixtures in the form of a gelatinous solution rather than in the form of dry particles, which naturally involves more effort, additional equipment and higher costs, and hence is not as desirable.

An apparatus is known for dissolving dry gelatin in which a spinning action is imparted to a container containing liquid, and the dry gelatin particles are introduced to the inner surface of the liquid and forced by centrifugal action to submerge in the liquid. Another prior known apparatus comprises a cylindrical tube open at each end and having a restriction at the outlet end. Liquid is introduced into the tube tangentially and downwardly causing a vortex to be formed into which the dry solid particles are introduced. Such prior art apparatus has the disadvantage of entraining excessive quantities of air in the solution causing undesirable bubbles and foam. Also, the material handling equipment is necessarily complex requiring, among other things, a gelatin hopper, a metering system, a liquid supplypump, and apparatus for keeping dry the conduit through which the gelatin is introduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope a process and apparatus comprising a nozzle and muffler for entraining dry solid particles in a high velocity fluid stream, and injecting the particles into a liquid. The nozzle has an outwardly flaring outlet for greatly decreasing the v velocity of the fluid so that the fluid itself does not materially disturb the liquid but without appreciably decreasing the high velocity of the dry particles, which therefore strike and pierce the surface of the liquid and are wetted thereby. The wetted particles are kept dispersed in the liquid by conventional mixing while they dissolve.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for injecting dry particles of material into a liquid where they are dissolved.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for entraining solid particles in a high velocity fluid stream, and then greatly decreasing the velocity of the fluid without appreciably decreasing the velocity of the particles which strike and enter the liquid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for injecting dry particles into a liquid that is as free of noise as is reasonably possible.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawingcontaining a side elevational view partially in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention for entraining dry solid particles in a high velocity fluid stream and injecting the particles into a liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing, the injection apparatus of this invention as seen in the drawing comprises a nozzle 6 having an inwardly flaring inlet 8 through which a high velocity fluid stream 10 is introduced such as air (depicted by arrows) containing entrained dry solid particles 12 of gelatin or the like, for example, of a 24 mesh standard sieve size, a constricted throat 14 in which the fluid I0 and solid particlesl2 are partially further accelerated, and an outwardly flaring outlet 16 inwhich the velocity of the fluid 10 greatly decreases as the cross-sectional area of the outlet increases. We have found that a throat 14 ranging substantially between 0.3,and 0.9 inch diameter, and an outlet 16 having a flare angle of 7 and a length of approximately 7 inches has given good results. Since the solid particles 12 have a density that is as much as a thousand times greater than a fluid 10, such as'air', they have greater inertia as they leave throat 14 and hence cannot be slowed down or diverted as easily as the fluid. Accordingly, the velocity of the dry solid particles 12 is notappreciably decreased and they continue traveling at a sufficiently high velocity to strike and penetrate the surface of a liquid 18 contained in a mixing tank 20. The velocity of the fluid 10, on the other hand, decreases substantially such that the outlet 16 of nozzle 6 may be placed less than one foot from the surface of liquid 18 without causing any appreciable disturbance of the liquid surface by impingement of the fluid itself thereagainst. Of course, the high velocity solid particles 12 cause some splashing as they strike the liquid surface, but this is not considered 0bjectionable. In any event, the velocity and resulting momentum of the dry solid particles 12 must be sufficiently high to overcome the resistance of the particles to wetting, such particles thus piercing the liquid surface. Once this is accomplished, the liquid 18 in tank 20 is agitated by any suitable means, not shown, keeping the relatively small solid particles 12 dispersed while they dissolve.

A muffler 22 is provided for muffling the noise generated by nozzle 6 and by the dry solid particles 12 striking the liquid 18. The muffler 22 comprises a cupshaped member having a circular plate 24 provided with a central opening corresponding to the exit opening in the outlet 16 of nozzle 6. The circular plate 24 and the end of nozzle outlet 16 are secured together by welding or any other suitable means with the openings in register. A cylindrical buoyancy chamber 26 is provided comprising spaced apart inner and outer concentric walls 28, 30 respectively open at one of their ends and secured together at their opposite ends by a frustoconically shaped end plate 32 to form a closed, tapered end partially extending in the liquid 18. The inner wall 28 has a plurality of studs 34 secured thereto which extend through corresponding openings in circular plate 24 for securing the buoyancy chamber 26 to the plate by any suitable means such as wing nuts 36. The muffler further has a cylindrical baffle 38 peripherally depending from plate 24 and interposed between the inner and outer walls 28, 30 of the buoyancy chamber, and cooperating therewith to form a tortuous passageway for fluid l exhausted from nozzle 6 through muffler 22. The exhaust fluid passes through suitable notched openings 40 provided at the upper end of inner wall 28, through the passageway between the inner wall 28 and baffle 38, through the passageway between the end of baffle 38 and end plate 32, and through the passageway between the baffle 38 and outer wall 30 to atmosphere as shown by the lines and arrows in the drawing.

The tapered end 32 of buoyancy chamber 26 is shown partially immersed in the liquid 18 in order to contain the noise generated by the nozzle 6 and by the particles 12 striking the liquid 18. Excessive immersion of the tapered end 32 is objectionable, however, since it decreases the turbulence beneath the liquid surface within muffler 22 which interferes with dispersion of the particles 12. To control the depth of immersion of muffler 22, a support member 42 is secured to the side of tank for pivotally supporting a lever 44 having one end secured to any suitable clamp 46 on nozzle 6 and its opposite end provided with a suitable weight 48 sufficient to partially offset the weight of muffler 22 and to maintain it at a desired depth of immersion, even if the liquid level should change due to the addition or removal of material. The lever 44 also maintains the lateral position of muffler 22 within tank 20. Other suitable means, not shown, may be utilized to control the desired depth of immersion of the muffler, such as any suitable pulley arrangement having a cord with one end secured to the nozzle and a weight secured to the opposite end, or by providing a rigid support member mounted above the muffler with suitable tension springs connecting the support member to the muffler.

Any suitable suitable mechanism may be provided for entraining dry, solid particles 12 of gelatin or the like in fluid 10, such as a conical hopper 50 into which dr solid particles 12 are placed and fed ravimetrically in o the inwardly flared suction end 52 o a horizontally positioned ejector 54. A fluid such as air from any suitable high pressure air source is fed into the pressure inlet 57 of ejector 54, such high velocity air sucking dry solid particles 12 from the hopper 50 and entraining the particles 12 in the air stream 10. The air stream 10 and entrained particles 12 are conveyed by any suitable tubing 56 from the discharge end of ejector 54 to the inlet 8 of nozzle 6.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim: liquid, 1. In an injection apparatus for use in injecting dry solid particles into a liquid the combination comprising: first means including a nozzle and having an outlet for directing a fluid containing entrained dry solid particles toward a liquid, and for greatly reducing the velocity of the fluid without appreciably reducing the velocity of the particles, and muffling means comprising a cup-shaped member having a first plate secured to the discharge end of said nozzle with an opening in said first plate in register with said discharge end, said first plate having a peripheral depending baffle, and a buoyancy chamber secured to said first plate and comprising inner and outer walls closed at one end by an end plate and open at the other end for receiving said depending baffle in spaced relation to said inner and outer walls and said end plate, whereby said inner and outer walls, said end plate, and said baffle cooperate to provide a tortuous pathfor said exhaust fluid for muffling noises produced thereby, and said closed end of said buoyancy chamber is partially immersed in the liquid for muffling the noise generated by the fluid and by the high velocity particles striking and entering the liquid.

2. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said inner and outer walls are concentric, and said end plate is an endless curved plate of frusto-conical shape.

P641050 JMTEB STATES mmw @WIQE IE TEFEQATE: TET@* Patent Non 33,707,829 Dated 1/23/73 Inventofls) Harris T. Siegel It is certified that error appears in the above-ident'ified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

Claim 1,- fine 1' after "I claim de lete -liquid w (Ilaim 2, line 1 de-iete the number "2" and inaert--=1--.

Signed and sealed this lOch d'ay- ,ofJuly 1973.

SEAL Attestz EDWARD MVFLETCHERJR. r I Rene; Tegtmeyer Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. In an injection apparatus for use in injecting dry solid particles into a liquid the combination comprising: first means including a nozzle and having an outlet for directing a fluid containing entrained dry solid particles toward a liquid, and for greatly reducing the velocity of the fluid without appreciably reducing the velocity of the particles, and muffling means comprising a cup-shaped member having a first plate secured to the discharge end of said nozzle with an opening in said first plate in register with said discharge end, said first plate having a peripheral depending baffle, and a buoyancy chamber secured to said first plate and comprising inner and outer walls closed at one end by an end plate and open at the other end for receiving said depending baffle in spaced relation to said inner and outer walls and said end plate, whereby said inner and outer walls, said end plate, and said baffle cooperate to provide a tortuous path for said exhaust fluid for muffling noises produced thereby, and said closed end of said buoyancy chamber is partially immersed in the liquid for muffling the noise generated by the fluid and by the high velocity particles striking and entering the liquid.
 2. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said inner and outer walls are concentric, and said end plate is an endless curved plate of frusto-conical shape. 